|
Life lessons: The struggle, or lack thereof (pg. 7)
|
View this Thread in Original format
| Lews |
| quote: | Originally posted by SYSTEM-J
There has never been a single period in human history where the vast majority of people didn't have to work hard to survive. That's the human condition. No social system will get rid of it. Sitting around refusing to do the work required to protect yourself financially because you "shouldn't have to" is like leaving your front door unlocked at night because people "shouldn't" steal from each other. |
I actually think that at some stage in the future (if asteroids, artificial intelligence, or Donald Trump do not kill us first) we will head into some sort of system like The Diamond Age, where it's very possible the lower classes, which will possibly be a majority of the population, don't work at all, and the upper classes merely work for prestige purposes and the occasional small change in wealth.
But obviously we're not anywhere close to that now, and anyone who refuses to work on principle, without having family resources to back them up, is incredibly selfish and conceited, in my opinion. |
|
|
| planetaryplayer |
| IMO the evolutions of the chimpanzee and dolphin will but humans at risk and we will have to seek higher grounds |
|
|
| SYSTEM-J |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lews
I actually think that at some stage in the future (if asteroids, artificial intelligence, or Donald Trump do not kill us first) we will head into some sort of system like The Diamond Age, where it's very possible the lower classes, which will possibly be a majority of the population, don't work at all, and the upper classes merely work for prestige purposes and the occasional small change in wealth.
But obviously we're not anywhere close to that now, and anyone who refuses to work on principle, without having family resources to back them up, is incredibly selfish and conceited, in my opinion. |
The ultimate example from science fiction is Ian M Banks' Culture novels, where advanced AI and mechanisation have basically removed the need for work, leaving an "anarchic utopia" of pure freedom and hedonism.
I don't even think refusing to work is selfish as such, because it's its own punishment. Living on benefits is ing rough. It's a miserable existence, and it's only one calamity away from homelessness. I know a few people who've gone down that route, and there's absolutely no glamour in how they live. I don't know how anyone can read about the modern situation with pensions and healthcare and deliberately spurn the chance to protect themselves. These people are going to get to their 60s and 70s and find themselves in a real world of . |
|
|
| Lews |
| Higher grounds? You fool, that's prime chimp territory! That's where they want you to go! |
|
|
| Lews |
| quote: | Originally posted by SYSTEM-J
The ultimate example from science fiction is Ian M Banks' Culture novels, where advanced AI and mechanisation have basically removed the need for work, leaving an "anarchic utopia" of pure freedom and hedonism.
I don't even think refusing to work is selfish as such, because it's its own punishment. Living on benefits is ing rough. It's a miserable existence, and it's only one calamity away from homelessness. I know a few people who've gone down that route, and there's absolutely no glamour in how they live. I don't know how anyone can read about the modern situation with pensions and healthcare and deliberately spurn the chance to protect themselves. These people are going to get to their 60s and 70s and find themselves in a real world of . |
I've never read any Banks, I really should get around to that some day. So many books, so little time :(
I just find it selfish because (in the most literal sense) it's a claim on a portion of the total 'goods' produced in the world, without pitching in in the production at all. I find that extremely distasteful, even if the lives of those on benefits is horrible. Their self-chosen punishment doesn't remove the immorality of the whole thing to me. |
|
|
| planetaryplayer |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lews
Higher grounds? You fool, that's prime chimp territory! That's where they want you to go! |
To the mountains. That's way we can see the invasions |
|
|
| Lews |
| You'll be the first taken by the mountain gorillas. You think you're safe, up in the mountains, then you go away from camp for one of your trademark noxious emissions, and then when you least suspect it... |
|
|
| wotyzoid |
| quote: | Originally posted by SYSTEM-J
There has never been a single period in human history where the vast majority of people didn't have to work hard to survive. That's the human condition. No social system will get rid of it. Sitting around refusing to do the work required to protect yourself financially because you "shouldn't have to" is like leaving your front door unlocked at night because people "shouldn't" steal from each other. |
If I have a farm and a spring and I hunt that's also work. |
|
|
| SYSTEM-J |
| I really am starting to worry about your sanity. |
|
|
| wotyzoid |
| Or is it? If I'm homeless and I wash dishes and walk around with a shopping cart with my records, bread, butter, and water, that's still work. Or is it? |
|
|
| wotyzoid |
| What if I'm not begging at all and I just starve? |
|
|
| wotyzoid |
| I actually leave my door unlocked all the time, if anybody wants to come steal from me or just smoke a spliff and watch anime. |
|
|
|
|
